Stupa for Master Jingyeong from Bongrimsa Temple Site

Culture / PeriodUnified Silla Period (823)

ProvenanceChangwon-si / Bongnimsa Temple site

DesignationTreasure No. 362

Compared with stone pagodas intended to hold the sacred relics of the Buddha, the stone stupas for preserving the relics of high monks, called seungtap, are generally smaller in scale but more diverse in style.

The stone stupas for monks began to be built in earnest during the latter part of the Unified Silla period, when the nine head monasteries of the Seon (Zen) school were founded. The Seon school emphasized personal awakening. Stupas were made to honor Seon masters who had attained enlightenment and high monks who had inherited their teachings. Stupas contained the relics of these revered monks and steles had inscriptions recording their deeds and words.

This is a stupa built at the tomb of Priest Jingyeong (855-923), who founded BongnimsanmunTemple, one of the leading temples in the Silla Period. The stupa was taken from its original location at BongnimsaTemple in ChangwonCity.

The stupa has an octagonal roof and a three-tiered foundation. The mid-section of the foundation contains flower-patterned adornments. The roof, which has a gentle slope, also contains flower-patterned adornments at the end of the eaves. Overall, it has a slim structure and features subdued embellishment. Its appearance displays a change with time in the shape of Buddhist stupas of the Silla Period.